Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[Tom Shines]

Injuries started to slude, but injuries are more than likely going to happen every season.
The one thing that keeeos most players on there toes is the fear of being dropped if they are not playing well.
In most positions who do we have that we can bring in for players not performing up to standard?
Benji recently said it himself that we need tj improve our depth, then a couple of days later we upgrade Nax Taotua and Phoenix Godinet to our top 30.
No offence to either of these players, both have undoubted talent and will hopefully make big strides towards becoming genuine NRL players over the off season. But the fact is they are currently not close to being NRL quality and when you are in a position that Wests Tigers are currently in, we should not be dealing with maybes, we need depth players who are proven and we know will apply pressure and be able to replace starting 17 players who are injured or out of form.

Injuries are a factor that every team has to deal with ..although other teams seemingly have much better depth ..

If the upgrade to the Top 30 is indeed fact ..I would suggest it’s because they are being paid a salary that forces the club to put them into the Top 30 next season even if they won’t be playing NRL ..as they have done numerous times in the past for better or worse ( normally worse )

 

[Tom Shines]

I’d think the malaise all started when Luai announced he had signed with PNG up to that point the team was united.

How would you feel after the $1.2M man made it clear ….
1. I’m here for the rings
2. I’m batman
3. I’m here for life bro
4. We are building something special here

Then all of a sudden the teams highest paid player announces he is going to PNG for even more money after only 18 months into a 5 year contract.

I hope it’s just a coincidence … they sound very sensitive otherwise ..

How many of them were so upset they re-signed with the club anyway ?

 

[Tom Shines]

Sloan has speed, but that’s about it. He certainly hasn’t set the world on fire with Saints who are happy to get rid of him. He would just be another defensively weak winger if were to play with us.

And that’s what we are lacking …in spades… our guys are poor defenders AND slow as a turtle

 

[BlackWhiteGold]

phoenix and max both into the top 30, absolute min contracts

aware we are sniffing around kurt mann, but i had also heard that a while back, thing that doesnt happen due to the brailey signing

schuester impressing club officials, believe he will be on a t&t nextyear

No way Max Taotua is on a top 30 contract Kade, doesn't pass the common sense test.

Firstly, his agent announced his extension was a 'full-time NRL contract'. That typically means it's either a Dev contract or ft T&T as they would spruik top 30 at every opportunity if it was.

Secondly, the club has moved away from the "Will Craig" speculative top 30 deals now. Max was on a pre-season T&T this season so will likely move the step up to probably a Development deal in '27.

Pheonix & Christian T-M are different stories. Both rep level players who we secured close to 1.5 years ago on long-term deals with progression included to be able to retain them. I believe both have already moved from T&T to Dev deals mid-season, so next step is into Top 30 next season.

I do think Benji will keep a top 30 spot or 2 free (as he usually does) for Schuster if he brains it in the pre-season & trials.

 

[GNR4LIFE]

I’d think the malaise all started when Luai announced he had signed with PNG up to that point the team was united.

How would you feel after the $1.2M man made it clear ….
1. I’m here for the rings
2. I’m batman
3. I’m here for life bro
4. We are building something special here

Then all of a sudden the teams highest paid player announces he is going to PNG for even more money after only 18 months into a 5 year contract.

If I was in the playing group I’d be livid knowing that “my captain” didn’t give a rats about me or my team mates.

Maybe that’s true, but it’s a ridiculous crutch. Same claim was made last year about Galvin. No player walking out mid season, or signing elsewhere justifies the entire squad packing it in for the rest of the season.

 

[GNR4LIFE]

Kelma Tuilagi to the Storm.

 

[Tom Shines]

No way Max Taotua is on a top 30 contract Kade, doesn't pass the common sense test.

Firstly, his agent announced his extension was a 'full-time NRL contract'. That typically means it's either a Dev contract or ft T&T as they would spruik top 30 at every opportunity if it was.

Secondly, the club has moved away from the "Will Craig" speculative top 30 deals now. Max was on a pre-season T&T this season so will likely move the step up to probably a Development deal in '27.

Pheonix & Christian T-M are different stories. Both rep level players who we secured close to 1.5 years ago on long-term deals with progression included to be able to retain them. I believe both have already moved from T&T to Dev deals mid-season, so next step is into Top 30 next season.

I do think Benji will keep a top 30 spot or 2 free (as he usually does) for Schuster if he brains it in the pre-season & trials.

Haha ..let’s hope your “common sense” reasoning is correct

 

[Tiger-ferret]

Maybe that’s true, but it’s a ridiculous crutch. Same claim was made last year about Galvin. No player walking out mid season, or signing elsewhere justifies the entire squad packing it in for the rest of the season.

I agree however it wasn’t just Luai in isolation . It was ontop of the horrific injury list and they lost all hope. Not to mention all the resigning, made them too comfortable. You can see they have no hunger and are just limping to the end of the season.

From some sources on here, Benji will be made accountable.

 

[GNR4LIFE]

I agree however it wasn’t just Luai in isolation . It was ontop of the horrific injury list and they lost all hope. Not to mention all the resigning, made them too comfortable. You can see they have no hunger and are just limping to the end of the season.

From some sources on here, Benji will be made accountable.

In isolation, maybe. But there are excuses and justifications for why we fall away at the back end of the season, every single year. No one wants to acknowledge we’re a weak club who can’t handle the 27 round grind. It’s tiring.

 

[Tigerstigerstigers]

My theory on our collapse is this:-
- even when we were winning, we never looked good, the wins came from high intensity efforts
- KPP injury led to the collapse and reversion back to hopeless right side defence. This guy is more then capable in attack, but defensively he is elite in defensive leadership
- once intensity fell off with Luai going etc, that showed the glaring deficiency in having make shift 7s leading us around the park and Luai’s deficiencies . We have some exceptional attacking weapons in Samuela and Taylan May (whose form also dipped before injury) , Makasini and Bula… but none of these guys are getting space made for them . It’s no coincidence the left hand side dominate try scoring in reserve grade regardless of who the outside men are.. this is on Javon who is elite in making space and ball playing and went to an even higher level in the few games that Latu and him played together when Latu was squaring off defence inside him .
Benji’s future relies on him giving Latu and Javon a shot at 7 and 6 and it working. The best chances of that are they play together the rest of the season preferably a few goes in firsts .
My thoughts cheers

 

[innsaneink]

BA and Madge are twins….in their coaching style…

How many Pacific Islanders are playing for Leeds??..not many I’d say

There’s the difference

About half a dozen.

You have no idea.

He also had dozens of great islander players at Parra.

Nothing in all the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity"

 

[Tom Shines]

From some sources on here, Benji will be made accountable.

I expect him to be given another chance … but do you think he deserves any criticism?

Are you happy with the game plan every week …particularly the conservative 5 hit ups and a bomb style of attack ? How about the overuse of Api and May earlier in the season , and selections in general you see most weeks ?

 

[Tom Shines]

My theory on our collapse is this:-
- even when we were winning, we never looked good, the wins came from high intensity efforts
- KPP injury led to the collapse and reversion back to hopeless right side defence. This guy is more then capable in attack, but defensively he is elite in defensive leadership
- once intensity fell off with Luai going etc, that showed the glaring deficiency in having make shift 7s leading us around the park and Luai’s deficiencies . We have some exceptional attacking weapons in Samuela and Taylan May (whose form also dipped before injury) , Makasini and Bula… but none of these guys are getting space made for them . It’s no coincidence the left hand side dominate try scoring in reserve grade regardless of who the outside men are.. this is on Javon who is elite in making space and ball playing and went to an even higher level in the few games that Latu and him played together when Latu was squaring off defence inside him .
Benji’s future relies on him giving Latu and Javon a shot at 7 and 6 and it working. The best chances of that are they play together the rest of the season preferably a few goes in firsts .
My thoughts cheers

They looked good to me in the Warriors, Cowboys and Raiders wins…we see a much different attacking style now

 

[GNR4LIFE]

BA and Madge are twins….in their coaching style…

How many Pacific Islanders are playing for Leeds??..not many I’d say

There’s the difference

You cannot coach an NRL side these days without half the squad being Pacific Islanders. It’s not the 90’s anymore when they were a novelty. They’re almost the dominant demographc these days.

 

[Jedi_Tiger]

BA and Madge are twins….in their coaching style…

How many Pacific Islanders are playing for Leeds??..not many I’d say

There’s the difference

Leeds has in the starting side pacific islander players
Sivo
Palasia
Levi

 

[Tiger Stripes]

Benji gone by round 8…??….even if he has a better than 50% record after 8 rounds…?.?….interesting and why would they do it?

If they want him gone why wait till round 8, sack him at years end……

I hope his successor has been found already; And Benji is out at the end of this season.
Time for new coach and assistants to start in November this year.

 

[Tiger-ferret]

In isolation, maybe. But there are excuses and justifications for why we fall away at the back end of the season, every single year. No one wants to acknowledge we’re a weak club who can’t handle the 27 round grind. It’s tiring.

I acknowledged that years ago 😆

 

[BlackWhiteGold]

Haha ..let’s hope your “common sense” reasoning is correct

Mate it would be Sheenius if it's top 30.

I can't rememeber who (Richo or Benji or Shaun M), but someone criticised our previous regimes of giving top 30s on potential only and that was going to stop in favour of a structured progression.

Seriously I like Max T and I'm glad we're retaining him as he has some gifts but if he has got a Top 30 before we've made a call on Saukuru and even Mason and we've only got Tavana on a Dev deal next year, the club has gone absolutely nuts.

That's why I'm calling it as false.

 

[Tiger Stripes]

Bloody Bula, how frustrating he is. He definitely is very fast. When Weekes got away against Canberra I said to my mate "Bula will catch him easy" and he did. Missed the tackle, but pace wise he is very fast. Then last week he gets on the outside of Suli about 5 times and Suli gets him every time. Maybe his initial excelleration is poor and thats why he looks like he could break through but never does.

That's why he needs to be on the wing. Gets the ball at full pace.
OR a backup fullback.

 

[Tiger-ferret]

I expect him to be given another chance … but do you think he deserves any criticism?

Are you happy with the game plan every week …particularly the conservative 5 hit ups and a bomb style of attack ? How about the overuse of Api and May earlier in the season , and selections in general you see most weeks ?

I was never comfortable with his initial appointment, let alone his extension.

He has never coached ever and was never known for his strategic footy genius. How was he going to succeed at the top level?

He has proved excellent in the media under pressure and somewhat with recruitment but douehi gate in particular highlights his lacking. Also surrounding himself with the old boys rather than picking talent for his support. Perhaps his hands are tied but we need to change direction asap.